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Clear lead for PM in Armenia poll Current PM 'wins' Armenian poll
(about 2 hours later)
Preliminary results from presidential elections in Armenia suggest the current Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian has taken a commanding lead. Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian has won fiercely-contested presidential polls in the former Soviet republic, near complete official results show.
Mr Sarkisian had gained 52.7% of the vote, with his nearest rival Levon Ter-Petrosian lagging on 21.5%. With 97% of ballots counted, Mr Sarkisian led with 52% of the vote, with his nearest rival, ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian, lagging on 21%.
By early Wednesday, 97.5% of votes had been counted, according to official results given on Armenian public TV. The results suggest that Mr Sarkisian wins outright, avoiding a run-off.
But Mr Ter-Petrosian alleges widespread vote-rigging, and has called a rally in the capital, Yerevan. But Mr Ter-Petrosian said Tuesday's vote had been rigged, calling for a protest rally in the capital Yerevan.
Seven others were also in the race. The final results are due on Wednesday. Turnout was nearly 70% of 2.3m eligible voters, Armenia's election commission said. Seven other candidates were also in the race.
The final results are expected shortly.
'Violations''Violations'
If the early results prove accurate, Mr Sarkisian will have broken the 50% barrier required to avoid the need for a second-round of voting. Mr Sarkisian is a close ally of outgoing President Robert Kocharian, and the election was initially expected to be a smooth handover of power to Mr Sarkisian.
Turnout was estimated at nearly 70% of 2.3m eligible voters.
Armenian voters' viewsIn picturesArmenian voters' viewsIn pictures
Mr Sarkisian is a close ally of the outgoing Armenian President, Robert Kocharian, and the election was initially expected to be a smooth handover of power from Mr Kocharian to Mr Sarkisian. But Mr Ter-Petrosian - Armenia's president between 1991 and 1998 - surprised experts with a lively and outspoken campaign, and now insists he is the real winner.
But Mr Ter-Petrosian - a former president - surprised onlookers with a lively and outspoken campaign, and now insists he is the real winner. "The first president of Armenia won in the first round. We would like to congratulate citizens with that victory," his spokesman Arman Musinyan said after the polls, according to Reuters news agency.
"The first president of Armenia won in the first round. We would like to congratulate citizens with that victory," his spokesman Arman Musinyan said, according to Reuters news agency.
"There were very serious violations during voting, including ballot-stuffing, kidnapping and the beating of our representatives at the polling stations," he said."There were very serious violations during voting, including ballot-stuffing, kidnapping and the beating of our representatives at the polling stations," he said.
Strategic
The Armenian authorities have strongly denied manipulating the election process.The Armenian authorities have strongly denied manipulating the election process.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and a Russia-led group of former Soviet republics were monitoring the vote.
Conflict overshadows pollsConflict overshadows polls
Although small, the former Soviet republic is regarded as strategically important - lying between the energy-rich Caspian Sea and the gas and oil markets of southern Europe. The OSCE mission is expected to announce its assessment of the elections later on Wednesday.
Although small, Armenia is regarded as strategically important - lying between the energy-rich Caspian Sea and the gas and oil markets of southern Europe.
Correspondents say the main issues for Armenians are tackling unemployment and resolving long-running disputes with neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan, both of which have closed their borders with Armenia.Correspondents say the main issues for Armenians are tackling unemployment and resolving long-running disputes with neighbouring Turkey and Azerbaijan, both of which have closed their borders with Armenia.